Isn’t the title sounds like the name of a thriller web series (we are soooo obsessed with the web series culture now..).

But the 42 hours in my life were unforgettable. Fear, Sorrow, Anxiety, Nervousness,  Tension, Apprehensions…. It was like negativity of whole universe was inside me.

14^th Mar 2020 – Kashish is in Manchester since January for 6^th Semester of Fashion Designing Course (we are so proud that she got 2 scholarships in a year). Due to COVID-19 panic situation, parents of other students are emphasising on bringing the children back. I am a little reluctant because of the thought that flying doesn’t seem to be safe. It is such a highly communicable disease and who knows who is sitting next to you. Airports, Cabs… nothing is safe from this virus so better to remain in your hostel room. Kashish calls at 7 PM and tells students are leaving for India and only 2 of them remaining. I still insist that flying is not safe, so stay. All instructions given – remain in the room, drink haldi wala milk twice a day, eat healthy, take more Vitamin C etc. etc.. but deep somewhere I was scared… situation is NOT GOOD and NOT GOING TO BE GOOD.

15^th Mar 2020 – All other Exchange Program students left for India except Kashish and Nikita. I still maintain – flying is not safe… but now having doubts too… heart says she should be with me… mind says she will be safe there. Tough situation to handle when it is related to your child. Taking decision is not easy… your child is totally dependent on your decision… so many questions / doubts in mind.. Is she safe there or she should be here? How much food she can stock… how long can she not go to market… what if she gets infected… Mind is chocked to think and decide anything.

Believe me this is the hardest time for anyone – decisions to be taken with emotions or without emotions – दिल और दिमाग के बीच की जद्दोजेहद बहुत भारी पड़ती है…

Above all this, got the email from her Institute suggesting that we should call our ward back, discussed with MMU, credits and attendance will be taken care.

This intensifies my fear – Is flying safe?  

16^th Mar 2020 – Kashish is constantly in touch with me and comforting me that she is fine… everything is fine… REALLY ! The cases in UK are rising like fire in a forest. Thankfully she is in Manchester where not many cases are reported but till when?

The Trauma Begins:

16^th Mar 2020: 8 PM: call from Nikita’s (Kashish’s friend) Mom – we have to call the children back immediately; Locking down is happening, they will be stuck there if we don’t call them now. I start shivering… HAVE YOU EVER FACED THIS – You are scared.. really scared, your hands are shaking and still have to take a decision which is going to risk your child’s health…

In this state of physical and mental status, I booked her tickets TO GET HER BACK TO INDIA. Decision taken… now the next phase – will she return safe?

17^th Mar 2020: Reading the morning newspaper. Big and Bold Headlines –

Corantine: Even Indians from EU, Turkey, UK barred entry

Govt. expanded compulsory quarantine for 14 days for passengers coming from or transiting through the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait.

Shivers again..  not able to control tears.. Anxiety – how will she come now; will she be able to take-off from Manchester, will she be stuck in Dubai (transit city), what she will face at Airports, will she get infection, will she be safe…. Only questions and NO ANSWERS. Trying to calm my self – Hey! Archana, take each minute as it is coming; don’t panic; don’t overthink; be brave; god is with you; everything is going to be OKAY…. It HAS TO BE OKAY!

Flight is at 2:20AM (IST) – 18^th Mar 2020. Every time  I get a call from Kashish, my heart literally pounds out. Any issue? Flight on time? Not Cancelling Naa? Emirates gives the status alerts but I was even scared to check those alerts… what if the flight cancels!

Finally, Kashish told me that she is in the plane. Out of my nervousness, I was asking her questions like, “Plane’s door closed”, “Announcement made”, “Plane started moving”? And she was like “MAMMA”!!! But frankly when she said that it has started moving, I took a deep breath… a breath of smoothness… a breath of calmness… a breath of solace!

18^th Mar 2020: 8.30 AM (IST) Google Duo rings… I knew she is in Dubai. But hundreds of questions floated in my mind in those 5 seconds I took to receive the call – “is she ok”, “did she call because of some issue”, “is the flight to India cancelled”, “is she getting stuck in Dubai” – then the other side of my mind says, “Stupid Darling, you only asked her to keep in touch whenever n wherever possible; She is SAFE”. Yes, she was safe. She had even whatsapp me from flight using Airline Wi-Fi

(God bless them for giving this facility; it is a life-saver during these critical times. We actually do not realise the importance of these things in normal circumstances and think that we are paying and it is our Right but believe me I know now the actual worth of it).

10.30 AM (IST): She is in the flight from Dubai to Delhi. I will not ask her the silly questions now. Because I have subscribed to get the online status from the Airlines itself so why to bother her. I only explained her now the situation in India.

I had received a lot of negative feedback regarding the handling of people reaching Delhi Airport in last 2-3 days… even got the worst videos of GOVT. QUARINTINE FACILTIES. Thankfully CM Arvind Kejriwal had announced that 3 Hotels have been booked for those who want to pay and stay. UK and UAE were added to the list of blacklisted countries; travellers from these countries, even transiting, were required to be mandatorily quarantine for 14 days – Self Quarantine or Govt. Quarantine – NOT CLEAR. And Kashish is coming from UK via Dubai.   

So, I explained her the situation in India. I told her, “opt for Private Quarantine Facility and they will take you to one of Hotels; pay whatever they ask for from the India Credit  Card”. And I think for the first time in my life I myself told my daughter to fight with someone, “Kashish, लड़ लेना अगर वो प्राइवेट वाला ऑप्शन ना दे तो; डरना बिलकुल मत , मां बाहर ही होगी| (Fight with them if they don’t give the Private Quarantine option; don’t be scared; your mamma will be outside).

2.20 PM (IST): I am on my way to Airport… just 10 min. to reach… my phone rings… It’s her India phone…

You can’t imagine my contentment of that moment… parent living far away from their children during this crisis can understand this and my family n colleagues n friends too who had seen me upset on 17^th & 18^th March.. comforted me.. cheered me..

Her voice was chirpy, as usual. She was teasing me – Mamma, अब तो टेंशन मत लो, I am here in India. Little did she know – tension will not be over… not for next 14 days. Immigration took almost 2½ hours. She was in constant touch with me. Sometimes she calling, sometimes I calling her.. getting all details of what is happening inside.

We were not allowed to go inside.. not even on paid basis. I remember when she returned from USA back in 2013 and we had gone to receive her. We had taken paid passes and were roaming around inside the Airport as flight was scheduled to land after 40 min.  

Suddenly, she did not respond to my call… once… twice… thrice… so now that you know me… Yes I PANIC… literally freaked out… I don’t even remember now what was going on in my mind then…

35 minutes later, phone rang… “My Princess calling”…. I connected as if a starving person snatches the food. And started, “Why were you not picking the phone; you ok; are they taking you somewhere; did you ask for priv…..”.

“Mamma hold… let me speak…” I heard this voice from other side.

Oh Yes, Bolo.

“Everything is fine. It is very well organised. Preliminary Testing – Thermal Screening done. Interview over.”

Interview – yes, they ask the questions like, how are you feeling, any headache, any body ache etc. etc. etc.

Thank god, I had told her to be energetic, cheerful, look fresh – I know it is difficult after 20 hours flight in such a condition; but kudos to Kashish – she managed all of it.

“I am collecting my baggage and will be out soon”;

My never-ending questions – Passport दे दिया;  Hand Stamp किया क्या?

“Mamma, who is giving you all this info; which online shorts you have subscribed now; I am not Amitabh Bachchan that they will tattoo my hand”. (Remember Deewar – तेरा बाप चोर है |)

She is still so innocent. Later she got to know that people are getting hand stamped.

And then the time came when she stepped out of the Gate no. 5.

She is back, back to India, back to her own country, back to her own people, back to us. I could not hug her, could not hold her in arms, could not take her pretty face in my palms, could not kiss her…. But she was is with me.

And the 14 days Vanvaas (Exile) begins… watch this place for what happened in next 14 days…

Thanks to everyone for being so supportive and so empathetic throughout this experience – Manchester Met University, Pearl Academy, Airport Authorities of Manchester , Dubai and New Delhi. They are doing great in this crisis with whatever available resources. The duties performed by them are no less than of a Military Person –
they are serving the Nation – it is indeed a WAR.

स्वस्थ रहिये , मस्त रहिये , घर पे ही रहिये और जुड़े रहिये !